Luján, Whitehouse, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Support Treatment of Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act 2.0 to reauthorize residential treatment programs for pregnant and postpartum women who have a substance use disorder. This legislation will authorize funding to enhance comprehensive substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, recovery support services, and harm reduction interventions supported by the federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.

“To best foster positive outcomes for expecting parents and their families impacted by substance misuse, it’s critical they have the support of targeted interventions of culturally appropriate care to best guarantee lasting health for their child,” said Senator Luján. “Health disparities are far too common in reproductive health, and that’s why I’m proud to introduce legislation to reauthorize critical treatment and funding to ensure allcommunities have access to the necessary tools to prevent health complications and treat substance use disorders – including recovery and rehabilitation.” 

“Supporting women throughout pregnancy and postpartum means providing our most vulnerable — including those affected by substance use disorder — with access to treatment and recovery care,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This reauthorization will support healthier moms and babies in Rhode Island and across the country.”

“It’s critical that we provide pregnant women facing substance use disorders with the tailored prenatal and postpartum care they need,” said Senator Klobuchar. “By reauthorizing critical programs that deliver appropriate care and treatment to these women, our legislation will improve the health and safety of mothers and their babies.” 

A summary of the bill can be found HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE.